A doctor has been arrested on suspicion of the manslaughter of a 75-year-old hospital patient.

Dr Vijay Anand Harikrishnan, 27, has been suspended from Sunderland Royal Hospital while an investigation is carried out into how stroke patient Vincent Morris died.

Mr Morris, of Grangetown, Sunderland, collapsed hours before he was due to return home after five months in hospital.

He had been in a coma after a stroke last April, but had made a recovery and last September was given permission to go home. But hours before his release his condition deteriorated and he died shortly after.

His family called for an investigation. A post-mortem examination was held and police were called in to investigate.

Dr Harikrishnan, of North Crescent, Durham City, was arrested and was bailed after questioning.

Dr Harikrishnan appeared at Sunderland Magistrates' Court on Monday to apply for the return of his passport after it was taken from him as part of his bail conditions.

He is due to be married in India this month and magistrates agreed he should be allowed to leave the country to attend his wedding.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "We have been asked by the coroner for Sunderland to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Sunderland Royal Hospital in September last year. That inquiry is still ongoing."